In August the city of Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections received a complaint that the building was open and someone was raising dogs in it, according to Edgar Pinkston, a city inspector. Pinkston and a neighbor inspected the house but found no signs of canines or trespassers. Several neighbors informed Pinkston that the owner is deceased.

Plater's will is in process at the Hamilton County Probate Court. Attempts to locate her relatives were unsuccessful.

BLIGHT OF THE WEEK is an effort to highlight the problem of abandoned buildings -- and who's responsible for them.